Harrow

Harrow's population expanded in the 10 years leading up to 2011. At the same time there were changes in religion, housing tenure and ethnicity.

The population reached nearly 240,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Harrow increased by 16%, from almost 207,000 to 239,000.

The addition of just over 32,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Harrow was home to, on average, 34 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was lower than the average across London

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across London, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Average age stable in Harrow

Latest census data also show that the median age of Harrow remained 36 years in the decade to 2011.

This urban area had a higher average age than London and remained somewhat younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of almost 6,700 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years.

About 15% of people in Harrow are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Harrow by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes with adult children living with their parents

Harrow saw England's second-largest rise in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents.

During this period, Harrow overtook 10 local authority areas, including Halton and Castle Point, to become the English local authority area with the second-highest percentage of households with only adult children living with their parents.

In 2011, just under one in seven (14%) households in Harrow had only adult children living with their parents, compared with 12% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child increased from 33% to 36%.

England's largest increase in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents occurred in Oadby and Wigston (from 9.9% to 13%).

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across London

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Changing household dynamics

Harrow saw England's third-largest fall in the proportion of households with an unmarried couple.

In 2011, just under 1 in 20 (4.7%) households in Harrow had an unmarried couple, compared with 5.4% in 2001. The percentage of households comprising just one person decreased from 26% to 23%.

England's largest decrease in the proportion of households with an unmarried couple occurred in Slough (from 11% to 7.5%) followed by Ealing (from 7.9% to 6.9%).

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple was lower than across London

Percentage of households that had an unmarried couple across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Disability in Harrow

Harrow saw London's second-largest rise in the proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In 2011, just over 1 in 30 (3.7%) in Harrow reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 2.9% in 2001. The percentage who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 7.1% to 6.7%.

Across the region, only Bexley saw a greater rise in the proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability (from 2.9% to 3.8%).

During this period, Harrow overtook five local authority areas, including Greenwich and Redbridge, to become the London local authority area with the fifth-highest percentage of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across London

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Harrow residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.1% to 4.6% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (84%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 72% in 2001. The percentage of Harrow residents that described their health as fair decreased from 21% to 12%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad increased faster here than in any other local authority district across London. The improvement brought health in Harrow close to the national average 5.5% in England described their health as good in 2011).

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Harrow decreased by 2.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Harrow, London and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Harrow residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.2% to 1.7% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.7%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased faster here than anywhere else in London. As a result, this area had Greater London's second highest proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care.

Newham had London's highest proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care (1.7%), while Brent had the region's third highest proportion (1.6%).

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Harrow remained close to 1.7%

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Harrow by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Harrow

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 10% said they had no religion. An increase from 9.7% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing religious group in Harrow.

The percentage increased by less than the average across London (from 16% to 21%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Harrow that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 98,000 in 2001 to just over 89,000 in 2011 (from 47% to 37%). The number of people who described themselves as Hindu increased from just under 41,000 to just over 60,000 (from 20% to 25%).

About 30,000 people (7.2%) said they were Muslim, up from about 15,000 in 2001 (13%).

The population without a religion in Harrow remained close to 9.6%

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Harrow by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Harrow at a faster rate than across London.

In Harrow, the proportion of private renting increased from 12% in 2001 to 22% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 15% to 25%.

Across London, the share of privately rented homes increased from 15% to 25%.

The rate of social housing in Harrow remained close to 11%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 75% to 65%.

Private renting in Harrow increased by 10 percentage points

Percentage of households in Harrow, London and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Harrow

In 2011, 42% of the local population said they were from the White ethnic groups. A decrease from 59% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing ethnic group in Harrow.

The percentage decreased by more than the average across London (from 71% to 60%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Harrow from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 64,000 in 2001 to about 100,000 in 2011 (from 31% to 43%). The number of residents from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from just under 13,000 to about 20,000 (from 6.1% to 8.2%).

About 9,500 people (2.8%) said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), up from about 5,800 in 2001 (4.0%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Harrow decreased by 17 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Harrow by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Harrow working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 12% to 9.7% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.3%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.2% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 13% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Harrow decreased by 2.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Harrow, London and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Harrow residents that were unemployed increased from 3.1% to 4.5% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under one in two (50%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 53% in 2001. While the percentage of Harrow residents that were self-employed increased from 9.9% to 13%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 4.4% in 2001 to 5.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Harrow increased by 1.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Harrow, London and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Harrow

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in Harrow, but at a slower rate than across England.

In Harrow, the proportion of single people increased from 31% in 2001 to 32% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England increased from 30% to 35%.

Across London, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 41% to 44%.

The proportion of married people in Harrow remained close to 54%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 7.4% to 7.7%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across London

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links